272 THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



of the profunda femoris artery, at the same level as the lateral 

 femoral circumflex branch. It passes posteriorly between the 

 adjacent margins of the psoas and the pectineus, and then 

 between the adductor brevis and the obturator externus, to 

 the posterior region of the thigh, where, close to the lesser 

 trochanter, it divides into an ascending and a transverse 

 terminal branch. Before the main trunk divides it gives off 

 (i) a superficial branch which passes, medially, across the 

 front of the pectineus and then between the adductors longus 

 and brevis, and (2) an articular branch which enters the 

 hip joint through the acetabular notch. The terminal 

 branches will be examined in the dissection of the gluteal 

 region. 



Branches of the Femoral Artery. In every region of the thigh the 

 dissector has met with branches of the femoral artery. It is well now 

 that he should revert to this vessel and study its branches in the order in 

 which they arise. The following Table may aid him in doing this : 

 Aa. pudenda; exterme. } Superficial 



A. epgastrica super ficiahs inguinal. 



A. circumflexa ilium superficialis. J 



A. circumflexa femoris lateralis. 

 A. circumflexa femoris medialis-. 



A. femoralis. - 



A. perforans prima. 



A. profunda. < A ; perforans secun d a . { Aa. Nutritise. 



A. perforans tertia. 

 j^A. perforans quarta (terminal). 

 Rami Musculares. 

 A. genu suprema. 



M. Adductor Brevis. The short adductor muscle lies 

 posterior to the adductor longus and the pectineus. It 

 arises, below the origin of the adductor longus, from the 

 anterior aspect of the body and the inferior ramus of the 

 os pubis (Fig. 1 1 6). As it descends it inclines posteriorly 

 and laterally; and it is inserted, posterior to the pectineus, 

 into the greater part of the line which extends from the 

 lesser trochanter to the linea aspera (Fig. 121), and into 

 the proximal part of the linea aspera, lateral to the adductor 

 longus. It is supplied by the obturator nerve. It is an 

 adductor and a lateral rotator of the thigh and a flexor of 

 the hip joint. 



Dissection. Divide the adductor brevis, parallel with and 

 close to its origin, and turn it towards its insertion, but do not 

 injure the anterior division of the obturator nerve which lies 

 in front of it. When the muscle is reflected the posterior 

 division of the obturator nerve will be exposed. Trace the 

 nerve, proximally, to the point where it pierces the obturator 



